Suction dredge nozzle



June 30, 1953 I J. M. RAGSDALE 2,643,471

sucTIoN DREDGE NOZZLE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 3 Shee ts-Sheet l June 30, 1953 J. M. RAGSDALE 2,643,471

SUCTION DREDGE NOZZLE I; W x g; fi

a R N F? N R i i n W k I WWI. 3 1 M June 30, I953 J. M. RAGSDALE I 2,643,471

' SUCTION DREDGE NOZZLE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 30, 1953 SUCTION DREDGE NOZZLE Jesse M. Ragsdale, Fort Gibson, Okla., assignor of one-half to Ira B. Pate, Muskogee, Okla.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,303

6 Claims.

This invention relates to suction devices for barges, dredges and the like and aims to improve suction devices of the type provided with mechanical agitating means adapted to loosen the material to be removed.

In dredging operations utilizing a suction dredge or the like, sand and other materials to be removed are carried through a suction device by means of an inflowing current of water. Such devices have taken a variety of forms most of which are subject to a number of disadvantages. Thus, some are rather complicated in construction and operation and hence expensive to install, maintain, and operate. Others, though simpler, are subject to frequent breakdowns and are likewise expensive to maintain and operate.

One difiiculty frequently encountered in devices of this kind is the effective removal of certain types of firmly packed material which resists dislodgement by the suction of the nozzle and thus permits the drawing in of an abnormally high percentage of water compared to the amount of material removed. Many attempts to overcome this difliculty by the provision of various types of mechanical agitators have been tried but have not proved entirely satisfactory. In some cases, there is relatively little dislodgement of the material. Frequently the material dislodged quickly clogs the nozzle or agitator and partially or completely shuts off the flow of Water and material through the suction device.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a suction device which will overcome these and other disadvantages of i prior art devices and which can readily be installed on barges, dredges and the like with substantially no interference with existing installations thereon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a suction device which comprises a unit independent from the other machines on the dredge or barge on which it is mounted, which is simple to construct and operate, and which has relatively few working parts subject to wear, all of these being readily replaceable as required.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device for attaching to the suction pipes of dredges and the like to loosen the gravel, sand, or other material, so that it will be more readily taken up with the water while at the same time preventing the entrance of the larger rocks or other substances which might 2 stop the flow of water or damage the pumps and other equipment.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawings and annexed specification i1- lustrating and describing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the device mounted on a barge, dredge or the like;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1 omitting the crane and tackle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational View of the suction nozzle and a portion of the suction D p Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of the suction nozzle locking from the right in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational View of the digger;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end View of the digger; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 'I--'! of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 the device of the present in vention is preferably embodied in a unitary assembly comprising a frame it pivotally mounted on a barge, dredge or the like It and carryin a suction pipe 52, a suction nozzle it, a digger l4 and associated power driven mechanism it for oscillating the digger. The device is very simply mounted on a dredge or the like merely by providing a pivotal connection I'! for the frame iii, a flexible connection is between the suction pipe [2 and the suction pipe it of the dredge, and a suitable mechanism 2B for raising and lowering the framework iii to move .the suction nozzle l3 and digger l4 into various operative positions.

The mechanism 28 may desirably comprise a crane or the like 2! on the barge I i and carrying pulleys 22 and 23 for cooperation with the cable or hoist line 2 3. The cable or hoist line 24 is attached at one end to the pulley 23, passes downwardly and around a pulley 25 secured to the suction pipe it by a clamp 23 and then up wardly over the pulleys 2t and 22 to a drum of a suitable hoisting device or the like mounted on the barge H. The crane 2! may be mounted on the barge H in any suitable manner and is preferably guyed thereto by suitable guy ropes or rods 2?.

The frame. it! may take any suitable form and as shown preferably comprises side members 36 and 3! arranged in converging relation to each other and secured together by spaced cross members 32, 33, and 34 to form a substantially A-shaped frame. The rear ends of the side frame members 3|] and 3| are pivoted on a rod 35 mounted in cars or lugs 36 secured to the barge or dredge II to provide for pivoting of the frame member as aforesaid.

The suction pipe I2 is mounted on the under side of the frame I and is securely attached thereto in a manner such that there is very little, if any, relative movement between the two. This is accomplished by the clamps 26 and 31 which surround the suction pipe I2 and are secured to the cross members 34 and 32 respectively in any suitable manner. As stated above the suction pipe I2 is connected with the suction pipe I9 of the dredge or barge II by a flexible connection I8 which may take any suitable form well known to the art.

At its forward end the suction pipe I2 has a downwardly curved portion 38 terminating in the suction nozzle I3. Alternatively the curved portion 38 and nozzle ISor the nozzle I3 alone may constitute a separate section secured to the conduit I2 in any suitable manner as by a flanged coupling or the like. The sides and ends of the nozzle I3 are preferably flared outwardly as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to form an enlarged nozzle section having a downwardly directed substantially rectangular opening 39 into which water and the material to be removed are drawn. Trunnions 40 and 4| are mounted on the opposite sides 42 and 43 of the nozzle 13 and serve to swingably support the digger I4 as will be apparent hereinafter. The lower ends of the sides 42 and 43 terminate in curves 44 and 45 which constitute arcs of circles having their centers located at the centers of the trunnions 40 and M. This permits swinging movement of the digger l4 about the end of the nozzle with a minimum of clearance at all times between the digger blade and the end of the nozzle.

As shown more particularly in Figs. and 6 the digger I4 comprises side plates 46 and 41 having main body portions 46a and 47a preferably arcuate in shape and upstanding arm portions 56 and 5| provided with openings 52 and 53 for receiving the pitman shaft 54. Bearings 48 and 49 are provided for receiving the trunnions 40 and M to swingably mount the plates 46 and 4'! on the nozzle I3. The lower edges of the plates 46 and 4'! are curved as shown at 55 and 56, said curves constituting arcs of circles having their centers located at the centers of the bearings 48 and 49 and Whose radii are slightly larger than the radii of the curves 44 and 45 defining the lower edges of the nozzle side portions 42 and 43. This permits the digger blade 51 to be mounted on the lower portion of the curved portions 55 and 56 and to slightly clear the lower edges of the nozzle sides 42 and 43 during swinging movement of the digger I4.

The digger blade 57 may be of any suitable shape and material which will satisfy the requirements of the relatively hard usage to which it is put and is shown as substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape and having a raised portion 53 extending into the mouth of the nozzle I3 intermediate the sides 42 and 43 thereof. The blade 57 is preferably made of steel or like material and is relatively thick to withstand the action of sand, gravel, and other abrasive substances. Blade 5'! is preferably removably fastened to the side plates 46 and 41' so that it may be replaced as necessary. Any suitable means 4 such as flange and bolt connections may be used for this purpose. Alternatively the digger blade 51 may be fastened to the side plates 46 and 41 as by welding or the like.

Pitman shaft 54 and digger blade 51 serve to hold the digger I4 together at the top and bottom respectively. The sides of the digger 14 are held together by two pairs of tie rods 59, 60, BI and 62. These rods may likewise be positioned on the arc of a circle concentric with the curved edges 55 and 56 and are so located that the arc B between the inner rods BI and 62 is suflicient- 1y greater than the are A of the lower edge of the nozzle sides that with extreme swinging motion of the digger the tie rods will not strike the nozzle. Thus, the digger i4 is free to oscillate on the trunnions 40 and 4i with the digger blade 51 in close proximity at all times with the curved ends 44 and 45 of the nozzle l3 and without interference from the tie rods 59, 66, GI, and 62.

Oscillation of the digger I4 about the trunnions 40 and 4| as an axis causes the digger blade 51 to have a sweeping motion across the mouth of the nozzle, tending to keep the mouth open and free of debris. At the same time it crushes any material which may lodge in the mouth of the nozzle and will not clog up like a screen or equivalent member would. Since the digger blade has an agitating effect on either loose or compacted material this material is set in motion directly in the mouth of the nozzle and thus increases the amount of material handled.

The entire mechanism for oscillating the digger I4 is mounted on the frame I6 and preferably comprises a turn crank reducing unit or the like I6 driven by a motor, engine or other prime mover 64 and having crank arms 65 and 66 thereon adapted to oscillate the digger I4 through the pitmans 61, 68, 69, and I0 and the rocker arms II and I2. As will be apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 the rocker arms 'II and 12 are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on pivots l3 and I4 secured in the side frame members 30 and 3I. The lower ends of the rocker arms are connected to the pitman shaft 54 by the pitmans 69 and I0 and their upper ends are connected to the crank arms 65 and 66 by the pitmans 6! and 68. As the crank arms 65 and 66 are rotated the rocker arms II and I2 are oscillated through the pitmans 6'! and 68 and this in turn causes the digger I4 to be oscillated through the pitmans 69 and I0.

In the operation of the device of this invention the barge or dredge II is moved to the desired location for dredging and the suction nozzle I3 and digger I4 then lowered into contact with the bottom by slacking off on the cable 24. Substantially simultaneously therewith oscillation of the digger I4 is initiated through the mechanism' above described and the loosened material together with water passes into nozzle 13 and through the pipes I2 and I9 to the pumps. Oscillation of the digger l4 causes the digger blade 5'! to loosen and agitate material adjacent the nozzle I3 and thus increase the ratio of such material to water drawn into the nozzle and hence increase the amount of material handled. At the same time the sweeping movement of the digger blade 57 across the mouth of the nozzle tends to keep the mouth open and free of debris and. thus minimize the entry of material which might damage the pumps or other equipment. Any material which may lodge in the mouth of the nozzle will be crushed by the digger blade.

57! or by the projection 58 thereon. Thus, there is a selective screening effect obtained but without the use of a screen, grate, or similar device which has a tendency to clog up with debris or the like and to diminish or substantially stop the fiow of water and material through the nozzle. The device of the present invention does not clog up even under the most extreme conditions of use.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple, rugged and compact unitary device which may be mounted on a barge, dredge or like device independently of other mechanisms thereon. This unit is much lighter than conventional type diggers which results in less load on the barge and easier handling. There are few wearing parts and these are readily replaceable as required.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention I do not intend to be limited to the precise details thereof as the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A suction device for dredges and the like comprising a frame, a suction pipe carried by said frame, a nozzle mounted on said suction pipe, said nozzle having oppositely disposed axially ali ned trunnions thereon, plate members pivotally mounted on said trunnions and having portions thereof extending above and below said trunnions, said lower portions having arcuate shaped lower edge portions, a pitman shaft connecting said upwardly extending portions, tie rods connecting said lower portions adjacent the side edges thereof and a digger blade connecting said lower portions intermediate the ends of said arcuate shaped lower edge portions, said pit man shaft, tie rods and digger blade serving to hold said plate members in assembled relationship on said trunnions to form a unitary digger member, and power operated means mounted on said frame and operatively connected with said pitman shaft to oscillate said digger memher to cause. the digger blade to sweep to and fro across the mouth of said nozzle.

2. A suction device as set forth in claim 1 in which the digger blade is provided with a portion thereof extending into the mouth of the nozzle to aid in crushing material within the nozzle.

3. A suction device for dredges, barges and the like comprising a frame pivotally connected to a dredge, barge or the like at one end thereof, means for lowering and raising said frame about its pivot, a suction pipe carried by said frame and terminating at one end in a nozzle having oppositely disposed trunnions mounted thereon, the lower edge portions of said nozzle beneath said trunnions being curved on the arc of a circle whose center coincides with the center line of said trunnions, a digger comprising spaced plates mounted on said trunnions and having their lower edges curved on the arc of a circle larger than but concentric with the circular arc of the lower edges of the nozzle, and being provided with portions thereof extending upwardly above said trunnions, a pitman shaft connecting said upwardly extending portions, a digger blade connecting the lower portions of said plates and having a portion thereof extending downwardly from said curved lower edges and another portion thereof extending upwardly between said plates, tie rods connecting the side portions of said plates, the circular are between oppositely positioned tie rods being greater than the circular are formed by the lower edges of said nozzle sides so that with extreme motion of the digger the tie rods will not strike the nozzle, said pitman shaft, digger blade and tie rods serving to hold the plates in assembled relationship, and means for oscillating said digger comprising a power operated reducing mechanism mounted on said frame and having crank arms thereon adapted to actuate said digger through a lever mechanism.

A suction device for dredges and the like comprising a suction pipe having an angularly disposed open mouthed nozzle at one end thereof, means for supporting said suction pipe in operative position, digging and agitating means pivotally mounted on said nozzle, and including a single flat elongated blade member pivotally mounted on said nozzle and extending across the open mouth thereof and transversely of the plane of the mouth, and means for oscillating said blade member across said open mouth in close proximity to the terminal side edges thereof in an arc terminating adjacent the opposite ends thereof, to agitate and loosen material adjacent thereto and to maintain the nozzle free of debris.

5. A unitary suction device adapted to be mounted on dredges and the like comprising a frame, a suction pipe carried by said frame and having a nozzle positioned at one end thereof, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said nozzle, a single fiat relatively narrow digger blade mounted on said arms and extending across the mouth of said nozzle and transversely of the plane of said mouth in close proximity to its side edges, and power operated means for oscillating said digger blade transversely of its length back and forth across the mouth of the nozzle in an arc terminating adjacent the opposite ends thereof to agitate and loosen material adjacent thereto and maintain the nozzle clear of debris.

6. A suction device for dredges and the like comprising a suction pipe having an angularly disposed open mouthed nozzle at one end thereof, means for supporting said suction pipe in operative position, digging and agitating means pivotally mounted on said nozzle and including a single flat elongated blade member pivotally mounted on said nozzle and extending across the open mouth thereof and transversely of the plane of the mouth, a portion of said blade extending upwardly into the mouth of the nozzle, and means for oscillating said blade member across said open mouth in close proximity to the terminal side edges thereof in an arc terminating adjacent the opposite ends thereof, to agitate and loosen material adjacent thereto and to maintain the nozzle free of debris.

JESSE M. RAGSDALE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 358,686 Milliken Mar. 1, 1887 595,054 Flad Dec. 7, 1897 927,690 Singleton July 13, 1909 1,754,746 Ewig Apr. 15, 1930 

